Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Number 365 - Led Zeppelin

Another decade is rapidly ending. Music from the years 2000 to 2009 will go down quietly in history as, ah, uneventful. Is this decade a repeat of the 1940's? Can popular music of the next decade be as exciting as the 1950's were? Does the world have a new "Elvis Presley" gracing the land of the Earth, waiting to take music to a new exciting level? Or has music plateaued, never to reach the dizzying heights it achieved through the 50's, 60's & 70's? Was the 80's the turning point of the decline? Did rap and factory pop kill the guitar bands and real musicians? So many questions and only time is offering the answers.

I predict, like you, that the next decade will be more of the same. Sure, synthesised sound will dominate more and pop will keep producing it's vile of crap as it does every year. As for the Led Zeps, Queen and Doors type of music, I fear that rock has truly died. When did it die? SorryNeil Young. That my friend ......... is a bloody good question! ~ crowbarred

[Did rock die the day they stopped making it on vinyl?]

Air Zep

Led Zeppelin had a fully formed, distinctive sound from the outset, as their eponymous debut illustrates. Taking the heavy, distorted electric blues of Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, and Cream to an extreme, Zeppelin created a majestic, powerful brand of guitar rock constructed around simple, memorable riffs and lumbering rhythms. But the key to the group's attack was subtlety: it wasn't just an onslaught of guitar noise, it was shaded and textured, filled with alternating dynamics and tempos. As Led Zeppelin proves, the group was capable of such multi-layered music from the start. Although the extended psychedelic blues of "Dazed and Confused," "You Shook Me," and "I Can't Quit You Baby" often gather the most attention, the remainder of the album is a better indication of what would come later. "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" shifts from folky verses to pummeling choruses; "Good Times Bad Times" and "How Many More Times" have groovy, bluesy shuffles; "Your Time Is Gonna Come" is an anthemic hard rocker; "Black Mountain Side" is pure English folk; and "Communication Breakdown" is a frenzied rocker with a nearly punkish attack. Although the album isn't as varied as some of their later efforts, it nevertheless marked a significant turning point in the evolution of hard rock and heavy metal. ~ [Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide]

Dazed & Confused

Mother of all bands

When the Yardbirds disbanded in 1968, the song "Dazed and Confused" was re-worked by Page yet again, this time while as a member of Led Zeppelin. Page took the title, came up with a new set of lyrics, and changed enough of the melody to escape a plagiarism lawsuit from Jake Holmes. The Led Zeppelin version was not credited to Jake Holmes, and they also had a different ASCAP code asigned to it. While Holmes took no action at the time, he did later contact Jimmy Page in regards to the matter. Page has not yet replied. Led Zeppelin recorded their version in October 1968 at Olympic Studios, London, and the song was included on their 1969 debut album Led Zeppelin. It begins with a slow-tempo bluesy rhythm, propelled by John Paul Jones' descending bass line. It then changes to a faster tempo during the darkest part of the song, again featuring bowed guitar by Page, followed by a furious guitar solo (similar to Page's solo from the Yardbirds' "Think About It"), before finally returning to the initial rhythm. John Bonham's sporadic, explosive drumming throughout helped define the song's power and intensity. This was one of three Led Zeppelin songs on which Page used a bow on his guitar, the others being "How Many More Times" and "In The Light". The intro of the song "In the Evening" utilised the Gizmotron rubber wheel string exciter to achieve the violin-like effects. Many often mistake this for his use of the bow. ~ [Source: Wikipedia]

Dazed & Live

Led Zep art

"Dazed and Confused" was widely popularised by, and is still heavily identified with, Led Zeppelin's version. It became the centrepiece for the group at Led Zeppelinconcerts, at least through the release of "Whole Lotta Love" from their second album. When performed live, it was (except for the fast middle section) played at a slower overall tempo, and gradually extended in duration (up to 45 minutes by 1975) as a multi-section improvisedjam. Although initially performed in a manner similar to the studio version, some noticeable differences were gradually developed in live performances. By June 1969, in the section where Page plays guitar with a violin bow, the rest of the band dropped out completely, allowing him to perform a lengthier free-form improvisation, though by January 1970, the main structure of the section was already formed. By 1972, another improvised section had been added between the verses and this. The fast section was extended to allow changes in dynamics and volume, as well as changing the beat, sometimes seguing in and out of another song altogether. There was a short jam at the end of the song after the final verse. ~ [Source: Wikipedia]

The popular formula in England in this, the aftermath era of such successful British bluesmen as Cream and John Mayall, seems to be: add, to an excellent guitarist who, since leaving the Yardbirds and/or Mayall, has become a minor musical deity, a competent rhythm section and pretty soul-belter who can do a good spade imitation. Jimmy Page, around whom the Zeppelin revolves, is, admittedly, an extraordinarily proficient blues guitarist and explorer of his instrument's electronic capabilities. Unfortunately, he is also a very limited producer and a writer of weak, unimaginative songs, and the Zeppelin album suffers from his having both produced it and written most of it (alone or in combination with his accomplices in the group).

It would seem that, if they're to help fill the void created by the demise of Cream, they will have to find a producer (and editor) and some material worthy of their collective attention. ~ [Source:Rolling Stone 1969] Fascinating. For such a shitty review it makes you wonder why Rolling Stone included this album at #029 in their "Greatest 500 Albums"?

Rolling Stone magazine deemed their '365th Song of all Time' was "Unchained Melody" byRighteous Brothers. Righteous Brothers has not appeared in The Definitive 1000 of All Time.

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About Me

Name: crowbarred

Location: Victoria, Australia

Welcome to "The Definitive 1000 Songs of All Time 1955 to 2005" & the Mellow Mix Volumes.This site is merely to question Rolling Stone Magazine's Top 500 Songs. Everyone has songs they
like and everyone has dislikes. Remember music is like clothing.. there are many styles,
so why on earth would all people want to wear jockey "Y" fronts???
Oh, & don't forget to RATE the songs. Ta